A Delta plane skidded off the runway at LaGuardia Airport in New York on Thursday in the middle of a snowstorm, crashing through a fence.
Port Authority officials and the New York Fire Department were at the scene immediately following the crash, and all passengers had been removed from the plane. One person was taken to hospital after suffering minor injuries, according to an FDNY spokesperson.
The spokeswoman said all passengers and crew members that were on the plane are being evaluated to determine whether they need medical attention, but none of them suffered major injuries. “Again, all injuries are minor,” she said.
The Delta plane, Flight 1086 from Atlanta to LaGuardia, slid off the left side of the runway according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The accident occurred shortly after 11 a.m., and it appears the plane crashed through a fence.
All 127 passengers and five crew members on board were safely taken off of the MD-88 aircraft according to statement from Port Authority officials.
NOW: #ESU #Harbor @FDNY & PAPD at #LGA. Minor fuel spill. All passengers removed. Minor injuries @Delta @nycoem pic.twitter.com/SbYRLV9FLI— NYPD Special Ops (@NYPDSpecialops) March 5, 2015
Footage of the Delta aircraft on the runway shows the nose of the plane stuck between a fence at the end of the runway and passengers filing off the plane. A fuel tank on the plane was reportedly ruptured, but the leak was quickly contained.
Audio from the air traffic control tower reveals that one wing of the plane was ruptured and that snow caused limited visibility from the tower. The audio reveals that the controller in the tower lost sight of the aircraft as it landed, presumably due to the heavy snow that limited visibility, and he repeatedly tried to call the pilot via radio.
After receiving no response, the controller was interrupted when airport workers on the ground broke in to say, "You have an aircraft off [runway] 31, please advise crash rescue: LaGuardia Airport is closed at this time." The control tower then began directing other incoming aircraft to abort their landings. The audio was posted to a forum on liveatc.net.
Thank God! No one hurt we could of ended up in the water! #survive #thankgod #ice #safelanding A video posted by _veeestchic_ (@_veeestchic_) on Mar 5, 2015 at 8:25am PST
At the time of the incident, LaGuardia was reporting heavy snow with a visibility of a quarter of a mile, with temperatures falling through the upper 20s Fahrenheit. Runway 13 is 7,003 feet long and equipped with an Emergency Arresting System to prevent planes from sliding off the end of the runways and into water or out onto the roadway.
The embankment and fence appears to have prevented the plane from continuing on into Flushing Bay, which is located just off the end of the runway. Photos from the scene show just how close the plane came to plunging into the water.
@fdny says 131 people about delta flight. Incredibly only one minor injury at laguardia. #1010WINS pic.twitter.com/Jodc2vbD3C— glenn schuck (@glennschuck) March 5, 2015
A first class passenger's view after Delta plane came to halt at LaGuardia Airport: http://t.co/6vBGNIXZYY pic.twitter.com/sY12AMw1mq— ABC News (@ABC) March 5, 2015
Prior to the incident, 256 flights were cancelled at LaGuardia and 34 flights were delayed. After the crash, the airport announced the closure of all runways, but later reopened the airport when conditions improved.
and... LaGuardia shuts down. A photo posted by kristina (@kristinagrossmann) on Mar 5, 2015 at 8:14am PST
Passengers aboard the plane, including Jamie Primak, were tweeting about the experience.
We have all been evacuated. Everyone is safe. Thank you for your prayers. God is good.— Jaime Primak (@JaimePrimak) March 5, 2015
Giants' tight end Larry Donnell was apparently aboard the plane and was also sharing photos from the scene.
Plane down A photo posted by Larry Donnell (@beyond_greatnes) on Mar 5, 2015 at 8:24am PST
At least once Delta passenger apparently had to be wheeled out of the terminal after the incident.
Man being wheeled out of #Delta term. after flight skidded off runway at #LGA. pic.twitter.com/Cf1De4Jwm3— Keith Feldman (@NBCproducer) March 5, 2015
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is working to determine the cause of the crash.
Additional reporting by Andrew Freedman.